Takht restrains HSGMC from taking charge

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Amritsar, Punjab: A day after playing a peacemaker by directing the two warring sides to call off their conclaves, Akal Takht today said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will continue to manage the affairs of Haryana gurdwaras till the row is resolved.

In a way, Akal Takht has restrained the new Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) team from assuming office.

In a brief statement released here this afternoon, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said: “I am satisfied that the two parties have cancelled their conclaves following my directions. To ensure that the efforts initiated by Akal Takht bear fruit, I direct both the groups to refrain from resorting to any war of words till the issue is resolved. Besides, the management of Haryana gurdwaras should continue as it used to be earlier.”

The Jathedar didn’t mention directly that the SGPC will upkeep Haryana gurdwaras till the row is resolved and chose to play with the words to convey his directions.

Talking to The Tribune, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said they had always followed Akal Takht directions and would continue to do so.

On the other hand, HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said Akal Takht should refrain from issuing such directions as it could spark controversy. He asked as to why the HSGMC could not function in Haryana as the DSGMC does in Delhi.

HSGMC senior vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi hit out at the Akal Takht Jathedar saying: “How he is issuing directions to us when he has already excommunicated us from the Panth? It is forbidden for him. Now, he has no business to tell us what to do.” He asked the Jathedar as to under which ‘maryada’ the Haryana gurdwaras have been turned into fortress by the armed SAD supporters. He also wondered how long the SAD supporters will camp in these shrines. He said: “It was SAD which had raised the demand for Punjabi Suba and threw us out of Punjab. The SAD leaders are responsible for the prevailing mess. They should be excommunicated by Akal Takht.”

Meanwhile, the Dal Khalsa has asked the Akal Takht Jathedar to withdraw the “unprincipled edict” in which he has excommunicated Haryana Sikh leaders before issuing directions to them. Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said by directing the SAD to call off their conclave, Gaini Gurbachan Singh has “provided them an escape route”. He said it was ironic that the Jathedar was issuing directions to the HSGMC leaders whom he had excommunicated a few days ago. Alleging that his latest order smacks of partisan approach, he urged the Jathedar to play the role of the elderly person of the community to find out the solution to the crisis.

He said: “The Badals have been exploiting Sikh sentiments and have made the Jathedar their subservient. We all know that the Badals have scant respect for Akal Takht, its principles, tenets and traditions.”

“I am satisfied that the two parties have cancelled their conclaves following my directions. To ensure that the efforts initiated by Akal Takht bear fruit, I direct both the groups to refrain from resorting to any war of words till the issue is resolved. Besides, the management of Haryana gurdwaras should continue as it used to be earlier.”

Giani Gurbachan Singh, Akal takht jathedar

“Akal Takht should refrain from issuing such directives as it could spark controversy. Why the HSGMC could not function in Haryana as the DSGMC does in Delhi.”

Jagdish Singh Jhinda, HSGMC president

“The Badals have been exploiting Sikh sentiments and have made the Jathedar their subservient. We all know that the Badals have scant respect for Akal Takht, its principles, tenets and traditions.”